I'm sorry for what I did when I had baby brain

From accidentally drinking Dettol to misplacing their children, these are the most extreme cases of baby brain we've come across.

While the validity of the ‘baby brain’ phenomenon – a pregnancy-induced fog that causes absent-mindedness, memory loss, irrational behaviour and overly emotional reactions to situations – has often been queried (mostly by those who have never given birth), scientists from the University of London believe they may have found proof that not only does baby brain exist, but it also might make you a better mother.

The proof is in the pudding (brain)

“Our findings give us a significant insight into the ‘baby brain’ phenomenon that makes a woman more sensitive during the child bearing process,” said Dr Victoria Bourne from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, speaking to the Telegraph UK last year.

“The results suggest that during pregnancy, there are changes in how the brain processes facial emotions that ensure that mothers are neurologically prepared to bond with their babies at birth.”

A matter of energy

Basically, scientists believe that pregnant women and new mothers give more energy to the right sides of their brains in the lead-up to and immediately following birth. This means that the left side – the part responsible for logic and reason – receives less energy and is less able to function at the same level.

Face-palm ‘baby brain’ moments

That baby brain actually exists isn’t exactly revolutionary news to anyone who has had a child – and to prove it, we asked you to share your best and worst ‘baby brain’ moments. Read ‘em and weep, ladies …

“I went up and slung my arm around another man at my brother’s wedding last night, thinking it was my Dad (he was dressed exactly the same, same hair, height, everything). Quite embarrassing.” – Grace Koelma

“Was at the pub when pregnant six years ago and thought it was my husband standing at the bar … so I pinched his bum. Turns out it was NOT my husband. Bloke couldn’t wipe the smile off his face! Naturally, I blamed it on pregnancy … but in hindsight, I suspect it was just me being me. Ugh!!!! – Kylie Matthews

“I forgot how to write a cheque. I mean TOTALLY forgot. Sat there looking at my cheque book while the accountant waited for me to pay and I could not think what I had to do. Eventually handed it to husband. Felt such a fool. Also backed into my mother’s garage door. Panicked and so reversed backwards into it again. ” – Ruth Devine

“I constantly left my daughter behind, everywhere, anywhere. People would race after us, fanatically pushing the pram, calling ‘Hello! Your baby, your baby!’ And I would stare at them mildly and say, ‘Baby?’ – Bron Maxabella

“Got in the shower in my clothes. Water running and all. Didn’t notice for about a minute.” – Rosemary Donald

“Eight months pregnant with my second, I picked up a pile of dirty clothes put them in the bottom rack of the dishwasher, put dishwashing powder in and turned it on. Then walked into laundry, couldn’t work out where the hell the dirty clothes were, walked around for five minutes looking for them, finally look in kitchen, see dishes on the counter but the dishwasher is on … everything clicked pretty quickly then!” – Courtney Vinson

“Just today I was sitting at the end of my driveway thinking, ‘What side of the road do I drive on?’ I waited for a car to pass to answer for me!” – Danica Collins

“I couldn’t remember the word ‘spoon’. I told my husband give me ‘that scoopy thing you use to shove food in your mouth’! The tragic part is I know how to say spoon in four languages.” – Mary Leahy

“My favourite colour is green, and I got super excited and said, ‘OMG do they make green Christmas trees? I have to find one!” – Tamara Rawson

“I put the dirty clothes basket on the play mat and went to put bub in the laundry. Obviously I realised well before she made it into the washing machine!” – Natalie Asha

“I pointed the car key at my front door and pressed the button several times before realising my nearby car was locking and unlocking. The front door remained unmoved by my antics.” – Emma Ford

“I forgot my left and right. Truth is, I always have to have a little think about it (don’t judge me) but while pregnant, not a clue.” – Ruth Devine

“Put the milk in the cupboard, my phone in the fridge and carried a jar of spread for, like, five minutes before realising it wasn’t my phone … husband thought I was going mad.” – Alicia Farley

“I spent half an hour on the phone, stressing to the other person that I couldn’t find my phone.” – Scebella Whiteley

“Had a little panic because I couldn’t find my daughter … I was holding her on my hip.” – Donna Linton

“I tried putting my seatbelt in the ignition and my keys in the seatbelt lock.” – Emma Gold “Got a 1kg chicken out of freezer to defrost for a curry. Gave it by mistake to dog who thought he was in heaven. Needless to say we got an Indian takeaway instead!” – Emma O’Brien

“Cut up my new credit card instead of the old one. Rang and ordered a new one … then cut up new credit card instead of the old one.” – Alyssa Blackburn

“The bin is under the sink next to the dishwasher. I would scrape food into the dishwasher and throw cutlery in the bin … A lot.” – Shana Gildea

“I drank some Dettol by mistake. I had it in a mug with some water to bathe a wound. Put it down, forgot what I’d been in the middle of doing and thought, ‘Ooh tea! Nice!’ and swigged it back.” – Ruth Devine

“Had just finished breastfeeding my then two-week-old, opened the door to the mailman without realising I forgot to put my boob back in.” – Ann Brown

“When my first was about three months old, I got up early hours of morning to make her a bottle. Was using my phone as a torch. Put the bottle in the microwave and next minute blue sparks flying everywhere woke me up in a hurry. Yup, I’d put my phone in the microwave instead.” – Amanda Voigt